Advice on 1963 1016 please!

[sjg22]

I'm interested in getting the Forum's opinion on a 1963 Rolex Explorer 1016, originality, condition, etc. I've spent time looking through photos of similar watches and my hypotheses are below - please correct or add where seen fit!

Serial number 901XXX seems to be in line with 1963, per the serial number charts I've seen. I believe glossy dial to be original as only "Swiss" appears at the bottom of the dial, which seems to be in line with 1963 1016s specifically. Nice custard patina on the markers which is hard to see in the photos (one is clearer than the other). Matching patina on the hands which look like they're in very good condition (too good?).

Watch has been serviced a number of times as clearly visible from the marks inside the caseback . This gives me some pause on the dial and hands, but the watch has spent its whole life in a small town with no RSC with work done by a local watchmaker(s), meaning that the dial (and potentially hands) may have survived intact.

Case has scratches, has been polished at some point and has a small gouge between 7 and 8 o'clock. Not concours by any stretch, but if dial, hands, provenance are in line, does case condition make it a stay-away?

Ugly leather strap would need to go - no bracelet for this one (was bracelet standard on a 1963 1016, or were they available with leather strap?)

On offer for $9,000USD - should i be jumping on it? running far, far away? somewhere in between?

Thanks for any and all thoughts and comments!!!

[sjg22]

Some additional pictures. Again, patina doesn't show up on this dial photo.

[donaker]

A 63 should have a gilt dail. This appears to be a non-gilt service dial but it could be lighting.

[Kiaraff]

It's a gilt correct dial, hands are replaced!

[waspy1]

For 9k I don't think you can do better. I would want to see better pics of the dial in various lighting to see the condition. The hands are replaced but a decent match. The minute hand should reach the chapter ring so is not original. But if all perfect this piece would be close to 20k so for 9k these things are forgivable.


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[sjg22]

Thanks for the comments, really appreciated.

[sjg22]

Ok, so I've closed the deal and am a bit more comfortable giving the full backstory.

I pointed out the issue with the hands and agreed and paid final price of $7,500, shipped overnight!!!

I was back in my hometown last week (prairie city in Canada) - I was waiting for my girlfriend, walked into an antique's store to kill some time and asked the owner if he had any interesting watches.

He pulled out this Explorer from the safe. He'd gotten it from a local family, along with a number of other possessions, following a grandparent's death. They'd told him it was from 1963, but he wasn't overly knowledgeable. He said he'd looked up some ads on eBay and quoted me the $9K I mentioned earlier.

Watch ran, had just been cleaned and oiled and had a nice yellow patina.

He also said that service was done by a local watchmaker for the life of the watch who I've dealt with in the past (he's at least 85, so the timing makes sense). He likely wouldn't have had easy access to Rolex replacement dials as a small town watchmaker, meaning that the views that this dial is original makes sense.

Seems like this might be a good find - I'll apparently have the watch tomorrow so I'll post some pictures!

Thanks again for the comments!

[waspy1]

Wow, 7.5k is a total steal. You did well. Finding the correct hands might be tough but with your savings it would be worth paying a higher price to make it correct. Looks good as is though.


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[autofiend]

Nice- good buy I think. Look forward to the pics!

[donaker]

An especially good buy if that $7.5k was in Canadian dollars! Well done & congrats on finding a great piece. :)

[sjg22]

The watch has arrived! The dial, to my eye, looks like an original gilt exclamation point! Patina looks great. I BELIEVE that the second hand is original, with matching patina, but the hour and minute are clearly replacement (both glow under light).

Watch has definitely been polished. Not in bad shape given its age nonetheless.

So, I need:
1) Correct hour and minute hands; and,
2) Correct bracelet and end pieces

And leads would be appreciated!

Should I potentially have the lugs redone by LA or ABC Watcherks, or keep it as-is?

[Kiaraff]

My opinion, just find a correct matching minute hand.

I just polished my old case, looks brand new with those sharp edges and I don't like it.
It was a bad mistake!

[trackpad]

Great find. A steal in fact.

I'd advise strongly against refinishing the case. Find a correct handset at your leisure, but it's not an emergency. The watch looks fantastic.